Originally, I thought about writing this article directed solely at the Millennial and Gen Z populations, however, I realized that in this digital age, this issue spans far beyond just younger generations.

We’ve lost the value of conversation. We’ve forgotten what ‘good company’ means. We don’t know how to be comfortable with single-tasking anymore. Look around the next time you go out to eat — you’re bound to find at least one couple or a group of people sitting in silence, scrolling on Instagram or texting someone who isn’t even there (or worse — texting each other). Maybe you’re even reading this article while eating... if so, please stop and resume afterward.

I won’t be preachy without admitting that I’m guilty of this behavior, too — I, like any other person, have sat through awkward lunches or quiet dinners that have made me feel so uncomfortable to the point that I’ve felt the need to pull my phone out. Odds are that you’re guilty of this, too.

To any Gen X’s or Baby Boomers reading this, don’t go pointing fingers at us younger populations. We may be more adept (and probably more obsessed) with phones, but that doesn’t exclude you from committing this anti-social crime during a meal.

What’s the point in enjoying a meal with others if we aren’t present for it? Why do we make dinner plans, eat with our loved ones or go on dates if we lack the capacity to maintain a wholesome conversation with the people around us?

Your boredom or discomfort with a conversation (or absence of one) doesn’t warrant a thorough scroll through your Facebook timeline or a response to that text or Snapchat you just received. You have the entire rest of your day to be using technology — give yourself this time, this sliver of your day, to just unplug and enjoy the company around you, regardless if it's quiet or filled with boisterous conversation. Moments like these, whether it’s your daily meal with a loved one or a fun night out with friends, are irreplaceable.

Let’s stop taking our meals for granted. More importantly, let’s stop taking the people we enjoy them with for granted. If you care about the person across from you at the dinner table, your phone doesn’t come first — they do.